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| link5=[[Arizona Water Records|Water Records]] | | link5=[[Arizona Water Records|Water Records]] | ||
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== Introduction == | |||
From ancient times to the present, the history of Arizona has always been closely tied to the availability of water. Most of the population of the state lives along or is entirely dependent upon historic riverbeds, many of which are now dry because all of the water has been impounded for irrigation and domestic uses. | From ancient times to the present, the history of Arizona has always been closely tied to the availability of water. Most of the population of the state lives along or is entirely dependent upon historic riverbeds, many of which are now dry because all of the water has been impounded for irrigation and domestic uses. | ||
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The court litigation and the ownership records of water rights are a valuable source of information about the residents of the state and have great value to genealogists. | The court litigation and the ownership records of water rights are a valuable source of information about the residents of the state and have great value to genealogists. | ||
== History == | |||
Water records date back to the time when the entire Southwest region of the continent was part of the Spanish Empire. It is to the Spanish or civil law system that Arizona inherited the doctrine of "prior appropriation" or "first in time, first in right." Here are several websites that review the history of water rights in Arizona: | Water records date back to the time when the entire Southwest region of the continent was part of the Spanish Empire. It is to the Spanish or civil law system that Arizona inherited the doctrine of "prior appropriation" or "first in time, first in right." Here are several websites that review the history of water rights in Arizona: | ||
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See [http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1297&context=jcwre Integrated Water Management When Surface and Groundwater are legally Separate, by Charlotte Benson, Assistant Attorney General, State of the Arizona]. | See [http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1297&context=jcwre Integrated Water Management When Surface and Groundwater are legally Separate, by Charlotte Benson, Assistant Attorney General, State of the Arizona]. | ||
== Importance of Water Records == | |||
Since water records are kept in addition to records of land transactions, they are a valuable supplement to the existing land records. By statute in Arizona, Arizona Revised Statutes Section 37-708, water rights attach and become appurtenant to the land when the title passes from the United States to the state. | Since water records are kept in addition to records of land transactions, they are a valuable supplement to the existing land records. By statute in Arizona, Arizona Revised Statutes Section 37-708, water rights attach and become appurtenant to the land when the title passes from the United States to the state. | ||
== Finding Water Records == | |||
Water records are generally held by the individual water districts or irrigation companies. | Water records are generally held by the individual water districts or irrigation companies. | ||
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